Reclaiming Personalized Learning: A Pedagogy for Restoring Equity and Humanity in Our Classrooms

Product Description

Where exactly did personalized learning go so wrong? For teacher and consultant Paul France, at first technology-powered personalized learning seemed like a panacea. But after three years spent at a personalized learning start-up and network of microschools, he soon realized that such corporate-driven individualized learning initiatives do more harm than good, especially among our most vulnerable students. The far-superior alternative? A human-centered pedagogy that prioritizes children over technology. First, let’s be clear: Reclaiming Personalized Learning is not yet-another ed tech book. Instead it’s a user’s guide to restoring equity and humanity to our classrooms and schools through personalization. One part polemical, eleven parts practical, the book describes how to:

Shape whole-class instruction, leverage small-group interactions, and nurture a student’s inner-dialogue
Cultivate awareness within and among students, and build autonomy and authority
Design curriculum with a flexible frame and where exactly the standards fit 
Humanize assessment and instruction, including the place of responsive teaching
Create a sense of belonging, humanize technology integration, and effect socially just teaching and learning―all central issues in equity

The truth is this: there’s no one framework, there’s no one tool that makes learning personalized–what personalized learning companies with a vested interest in profits might tempt you to believe. It’s people who personalize learning, and people not technology must be at the center of education. The time is now for all of us teachers to reclaim personalized learning, and this all-important book is our very best resource for getting started. 
“This is a compelling and critically important book for our time. With rich stories of teaching and learning Paul France considers ways to create the most positive learning experiences possible.”
 – JO BOALER, Nomellini & Olivier Professor of Education, Stanford Graduate School of Education
“This brilliant book is a major contribution to the re-imagination of learning and teaching for the twenty-first century and should be essential reading for new and experienced teachers alike.”
– TONY WAGNER, Senior Research Fellow, Learning Policy Institute
“In these troubled times, this book is more than a breath of fresh air, it is a call to action. Paul gives us an accessible and sophisticated book that explains how and why we should celebrate the humanity of every single student.”
– JIM KNIGHT, Senior Partner of the Instructional Coaching Group (ICG) and Author of The Impact Cycle

Review

“A compelling and critically important book for our time. Many schools are rushing to offer “personalized learning”, usually assuming that means individualized learning,with limited evidence for its impact. In this wise book Paul Emerich France considers the nature of powerful personalization. With rich stories of teaching and learning he considers ways to create the most positive learning experiences possible.” — Jo Boaler, Professor, Stanford University Published On: 2019-07-16

“In this brilliant book by a dedicated practitioner, Paul France makes a powerful case for humanizing the process of personalized learning and shows us how to do it. He describes how real personalization requires a carefully constructed classroom culture, regular dialogue and social interaction, and individual reflection. This book is a major contribution to the reimagination of learning and teaching for the 21st century and should be essential reading for new and experienced teachers alike.” — Tony Wagner, Senior Research Fellow and Best-Selling Author Published On: 2019-06-10

“In these troubled times, this book is more than a breath of fresh air, it is a call to action.  Paul gives us an accessible and sophisticated book that explains how and why we should celebrate the humanity of every single student.” — Jim Knight Published On: 2019-07-25

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